Lansing Munchausen Syndrome Attorney

Contact Our Proven Legal Advocate at Cronkright Law Today

Every parent wants to protect the health of their children. This involves
taking them to the doctor when they are ill, advocating for the best treatment
and attempting to figure out what the best treatment is. Sometimes, parents
have difficulty working with doctors, nurses and other health care professionals.
Sometimes the focus of the doctor turns and the parent becomes a suspect
for child abuse or medical neglect. This can be a terrifying experience
for parents and can result in CPS conducting an extensive investigation.

For many years in Michigan, parents were being accused of Munchausen Syndrome
by Proxy (MSBP). Munchausen is not a diagnosis of a child; it is an assessment
of the behavior of a parent, with the thought being that the parent is
seeking medical attention for a child that does not really have a medical
need. The “diagnosis” of Munchausen Syndrome has been so discredited
by psychologists that no credible professional would use the term. Yet
it never seems to go away and is commonly used by CPS officials as a generic
term accusing parents of seeking unnecessary medical treatment.

Today other terms are used when doctors are accusing the parent of seeking
medical care for a child that does not need it. These terms include Pediatric
Condition Falsification and simply Medical Child Abuse. It is important
to understand that when these terms are being used or written into the
child’s medical chart, the focus is on the parent.

When doctors turn on parents, their first step is calling CPS. This is
usually the first moment when the parents realize that they are being
investigated for child abuse. When a parent is under investigation, they
need the help of a good
CPS defense attorney.

Most parents accused of Munchausen followed the direction of their doctors.
We have seen numerous cases where parents agonized over the recommendations
being made for surgical or medical treatment; only to have CPS come along
and accuse them of over-medicating or over-treating their child. It is
astonishing to see that when this happens, the treating physicians often
join CPS in making accusations rather that supporting their treatment
recommendations. This can be very frustrating for parents.

The “Red Flags” of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

It is really not possible to give a definitive list of “red flags”
for MSBP since there is no real science behind the theory in the first place.

However, here are some things that CPS workers are trained to look for:

A parent eager for extra medical tests

A parent who shows an avid interest in the medical details of their child’s condition

A child with an illness that doesn’t respond to treatment

Unusual lab results or an odd collection of symptoms

A parent who takes the child to several doctors for the same medical condition
(doctor shopping)

A parent who does not interact well with doctors and nurses

Most MSBP allegations are leveled at women. It is rare to have a father
accused of this, but it is sometimes leveled at a couple.

How Munchausen Cases are Investigated

In Michigan, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has Child
Protection doctors on retainer at two major hospitals (University of Michigan
and DeVos) who help them evaluate Munchausen claims and other allegations
of abuse. The process of a Munchausen investigation involves gathering
up a comprehensive set of medical records for the child. A Child Protection
Team pediatrician reviews the record and offers an opinion as to whether
the parent is pursuing unnecessary care. This single opinion becomes the
basis of either a criminal prosecution or a Petition filed in the family court.

If you are facing accusations of MSBP, you need a skilled Lansing CPS lawyer
on your team right away. Contact Cronkright Law to schedule a consultation today!

When Munchausen Syndrome Concerns Go Wrong

“Actual” Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy is very uncommon, but
accusations can arise simply because a doctor finds your case frustrating
and annoying. When an illness is hard to diagnose or doesn’t respond
to treatment, doctors may accuse you of MSBP rather than admitting their
limitations. Thousands of diseases are unusual, rare, and hard to diagnose.
When accusations of child abuse arise, it may seem like the entire medical
community is against you, including the very doctors that you relied on
for guidance and treatment. It is vital to choose a Munchausen Syndrome
lawyer who has extensive experience asserting the rights of parents. The
Lansing team at Cronkright Law is comfortable and skilled working with
parents facing Munchausen allegations. The experience of our attorneys
goes back more than two decades and we have successfully defended parents
throughout Michigan.

Defending Munchausen Allegations in Michigan

It is possible for a criminal prosecution to result from a Munchausen allegation.
However, it is more common for CPS to file a Petition in the family court.
This is an attack on parental rights and seeks to make the child a ward
of the court. The consequences to the parent and family can be devastating.
Defending against the allegations requires an attorney with a significant
amount of medical litigation experience. The first step for a parent is
to find an attorney with the right combination of medical litigation knowledge,
courtroom experience, and skill. The attorneys at Cronkright Law have
extensive experience working with medical experts. We have successfully
defended parents throughout Michigan accused of Munchausen and various
other forms of medical abuse and neglect.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

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